Under a concept called overlay design, developers are encouraged to build homes on one side of a property and leave the other side vacant. The open space can be used by residents of the development or donated to the town for the community's enjoyment.

"The most extreme case would be condominiums on a golf course," said Truex, trying to explain how the concept works.

Developers embracing the concept would be allowed to build certain features banned in the rural lifestyle initiative, such as guard gates and private roads.

But Truex says the design can increase density, and he equates it with cluster housing.

He and Vice Mayor Susan Starkey said it is incompatible with a March 2001 referendum in which voters told officials to preserve Davie's rural and equestrian lifestyle.

They were the dissenters when the council approved the concept by a 3-2 vote last year.

"I thought it was an awful idea when it passed," Truex said. "I think it's still an awful idea, so awful that I'd like to see it repealed."

In an effort to preserve the town's rural and equestrian lifestyle, council members voted last year to require developers to plant more native trees, add more landscaping, build trails and create scenic corridors along such rights-of-way as Flamingo and Shotgun roads.

Starkey said the town is buying more space for parks and is acquiring 115 acres of land, which would be financed with a $2 million grant from Broward County and state financing. She said the property was appraised at $7 million two years ago.

But Starkey said of the overlay design initiative, "I believe it does take away from what the people decided [during the 2001 referendum]. We didn't want Davie to be just a cookie-cutter housing community. We wanted to remain with open spaces and rural [areas]."

Truex said it would be illegal for homeowners in an overlay design community to have horses in their back yards because only people living on "true" acres -- not builders' acres -- are allowed to have stables and barns.

A workshop on overlay design is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20 to educate council members Lisa Hubert and Mike Crowley about the issue, because they were not on the dais when it was introduced.

After the workshop, council members would vote at a formal meeting to either keep or eliminate it.

Truex said he wants the issue resolved this summer.

Thomas Monnay can be reached at tmonnay@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7924.